Wildcats only managed two shots on goal
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The #22 NMU women’s soccer team opened GLIAC play with a 0-3 loss to the #5 GVSU Lakers on Friday evening.
The Wildcats (3-1-1, 0-1-0 GLIAC) picked up its first loss of the 2026 season at the hands of the Lakers (3-1-1, 1-0-0 GLIAC), who bounced back from its 0-1 loss to the then #16-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks.
The Wildcats played the Lakers to a 0-0 scoreline for the first 42 minutes of the match, holding GVSU off the board with the gusty wind in the face of the ‘Cats, and the halftime whistle in sight. The Lakers were awarded a free kick 15 yards inside the Wildcat half, and a wind-aided shot from Acadia Murphy gave the Lakers a late 1-0 lead.
Sonya Meta scored less than five minutes into the second half, and Ava Kozak scored 76 minutes into the game to give GVSU its 3-0 scoreline. Vesna Dennison and Shea Douglass both picked up assists.
The Wildcats got two shot attempts with one on target from the starting eleven, both coming from center-backs: Irene Kiilunen had her only shot attempt on target, and Riley Hill put one just over the bar. Kiilunen and Hill were also the only field players to play the full 90 minutes, along with goalkeeper Carly Sides, who made four saves in today’s effort.
The Wildcats got good minutes from right-back Madalyn Nissen and left-back Ava Buhlman, both logging 80 minutes apiece. Midfielders Sole Corley (76) and Gretchen Ellis (61), and forward Madison Bilbia (55) all logged more than 50 minutes, with fellow forwards Alyse Daavettila (40), Isabella Lorens (30), and Marena Maceroni (30) rounding out the starting eleven.
Head coach Erin Egolf used 13 student-athletes off the bench, with eight of those playing 23+ minutes: Izzy Armstrong (33), Lily Senese (32), Ema Delgado (31), Cecilia Wille (30), Emma Kastamo (29), Addison Franti (28), Paige Sundman (26), and Christina Roberts (23). Taylor Hon, Macey Laskowski, and Caroline Reynolds all logged 10 minutes, and Brenna Wilson and Malania Huemann each logged three.
For the match, the ‘Cats were outshot 20-6 with seven on target to two, GVSU produced eight corners to one, and the fouls were 5-6. Neither team was shown any yellow cards.
NMU now looks ahead to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Sunday, September 13, at 12 p.m. ET from the NMU Soccer Field.
